The Bell, The Book and The Candle
Meaning of the Phrase


One of two things usually happens when a person hears the phrase "bell, book and candle", they either think of the movie with James Stewart and Natalie Wood or they picture a witch riding a broomstick across the full moon.

Actually, neither of these impressions are correct.

The phrase is actually a reference to the Catholic excommunication ritual. Although many suspect witches have been excommunicated in Europe and in the U.S., the ritual is not for witches alone, but for any lucky excommunicant.

In the actual ritual, a bell tolls sounding a death, the death of the excommunicants' soul.

The Bible is slammed shut, exemplifying that the word of God is closed to the excommunicant.

Finally, a candle is blown out, symblozing the soul being banned to eternal darkness, no longer privy to the light of God or to His Word.

The saying became associated with witches when the witch hunts were rampant in Europe and witches and warlocks were being excommunicated and then executed.

Now, I was raised Catholic and educated in Catholic schools and I have studied many religions over my lifetime. I find that Gods and Goddesses of every religion are forgiving and would never excommunicate any soul that was willing to learn and grow.

I believe that all Gods and Goddesses are universally forgiving and that they would never kick us out of their church, their religion, their world or their universe.

Blessed Be!

Brigid Bishop